The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series Fueled by VP would conclude the inaugural Halloween Nationals weekend at Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH and Ricky Thornton, Jr. of Chandler, Arizona would lead all sixty laps of the $50,000 to win main event and make it a sweep for the weekend, claiming $60,000 in total prize money after picking up a $10,000 victory on Friday evening.

The win for the 36-year-old Thornton, Jr. would be his second straight series and third of his career with the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series. The win came in the Koehler Motorsports owned Longhorn Chassis powered by a Cornett Race Engine with sponsorship from Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Capital Waste, Certified Inspection Service, Coltman Farms Racing, Elite Ready Mix, Five Star Metal Buildings, D&E Outdoor Services, SI Towing and Recovery, Velocity Manufacturing Group, Jones Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Hoosier Tire South.

Ricky Thornton, Jr. would take the lead from his outside front row starting position, with polesitter Josh Rice giving chase, followed by Tyler Erb, Drake Troutman, and Nick Hoffman. Erb would take second from Rice on lap three, while Thornton, Jr. would begin to drive away from the field in the early going of the event, beginning the process of lapping slower traffic on lap fourteen.

Thornton, Jr. would work his way through the slower traffic at the rear of the field and by the halfway mark of the event, Thornton, Jr. enjoyed an almost six second lead. Second through fifth positions would remain the same, while Thornton, Jr. would build his lead to almost seven and one-half seconds at one point with around ten laps remaining.

Troutman would surrender the fourth position on lap fifty-four when he pulled to the infield with a flat tire and the only caution of the event would wave on lap fifty-seven when Jason Jameson would spin in turn two after suffering a flat right-rear tire.

Thornton, Jr. would get a great restart and again pulled away a bit from the field and would drive to a weekend sweep of the action, with Erb finishing second and Rice claiming the final podium position. Hoffman and Zack Dohm would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Dustin Sorensen, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Kyle Hardy, Colten Burdette, and Mike Benedum.

This concludes the 2026 season for the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Fueled by VP. In pre-race ceremonies, the tour recognized Colten Burdette of Parkersburg, WV as the series champion for the season, marking his second consecutive series championship.

The series would also like to thank all the racers, race teams, race tracks, and race fans for their tremendous support during the 2026 season.

For more information on the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP, please log on to www.IMDIRT.net or call (828) 361-5981.

The Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series fueled by VP is brought to the fans in the region by many important sponsors and partners: Official partners include, Valvoline Global Operations (Official Oil), VP Racing Fuels (Official Fuel), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Coltman Farms Racing (Checkered Flag Sponsor & Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series Title Sponsor), Jail Breaker Brands (Official Potato Chip), STAKT Products, DIRTcar Racing, XS Power Batteries (Green Flag Sponsor), Todd Steel Buildings (Move of the Race Award), FloRacing (Rookie of the Year Award), DirtonDirt.com, MD3 (Hard Charger of the Race Award), Conley River Terminal (Hard Luck Award), Impact RaceGear (Official Outfitter), Allgaier Performance Parts & Racing Shocks, Domination Race Cars (Official Victory Lane Sponsor), C&W Sales, Joy Ride Transport, Curtis Towing, MAGA Lift (Official Droop Check Sponsor), Simpson Race Products (Official Safety Equipment), Shane Bailey Racing, Swafford Signs (Official Decals & Graphics), MyRacePass (Official Website), Deatherage Racing Opticians (Middleman Award), Wayne’s Auto Repair (Official Hot Pit Sponsor), Slicker Graphics, Jim & Nancy Viox, JD Enterprise & Dirt Empire Magazine.

Official Summary of Results

Portsmouth Raceway Park-Portsmouth, Ohio
Saturday October 31, 2026

Feature Finish:
1. Ricky Thornton, Jr.-Chandler, Ariz.
2. Tyler Erb-New Wavery, Tex.
3. Josh Rice-Crittenden, Ky.
4. Nick Hoffman-Mooresville, N.C.
5. Zack Dohm-Cross Lanes, West Va.
6. Dustin Sorensen-Rochester, Minn.
7. Eddie Carrier, Jr.-Fairmont, West Va.
8. Kyle Hardy-Winchester, Va.
9. Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, West Va.
10. Mike Benedum-Salem, West Va.
11. Levi Yetter-Sarver, Penn.
12. Rod Conley-Wheelersburg, Ohio
13. Miles Cook II-Wheelersburg, Ohio
14. Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio
15. Tristan Chamberlain-Richmond, Ind.
16. Jason Jameson-Lawrenceburg, Ind.
17. Drake Troutman-Hyndman, Penn.
18. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
19. Adam Stricker-Batavia, Ohio
20. Henry Hornsby III-Beckley, West Va.

Nick Hoffman (Group B) 14.491 seconds set the Slicker Graphics Fastest Hot Lap.

Nick Hoffman (Group B) was the fastest in VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials with a 14.876 second lap among 37 entries.

Josh Rice won Joy Ride Transport Heat-1.

Drake Troutman won C&W Sales Heat-2.

Ricky Thornton, Jr. won Curtis Towing Heat-3.

Tyler Erb won Jim and Nancy Viox Heat-4.

Michael Chilton won STAKT Products B-Main #1

Seth Daniels won Impact RaceGear B-Main #2

Mike Benedum won the MD3 Hard Charger Award advancing 7 positions.

Levi Yetter won the Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman (11th Place) Award.

Miles Cook II was the FloRacing Rookie of the Race.

Justin Cooper and Ryan Montgomery were the STAKT Products First Non-Transfers

Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton, Jr. 1-60

Allgaier Performance Halfway Leader was Ricky Thornton, Jr.

Swafford Signs White Flag Leader was Ricky Thornton, Jr.

Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags: One (lap 57)

Time of Race: 19 minutes, 20 seconds

Provisional Starters: Rod Conley and Miles Cook II

Margin of Victory: 2.668 seconds

Heat One Finish: Josh Rice, Tristan Chamberlain, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Michael Chilton, Colten Burdette, Mike Benedum, Shannon Thornsberry, Miles Cook II, Travis Carr, Austin Mullett

Heat Two Finish: Drake Troutman, Zack Dohm, Kyle Hardy, Kirk Phillips, Rod Conley, Justin Cooper, Josh Bocook, Bill Haager, Breyton Santee

Heat Three Finish: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Nick Hoffman, Jason Jameson, Seth Daniels, Levi Yetter, Ryan Montgomery, Avery Taylor, Camaron Marlar, Kenneth Howell

Heat Four Finish: Tyler Erb, Dustin Sorensen, Adam Stricker, Henry Hornsby III, David Webb, Eric Wilson, Derek Fisher, Kevin Wagner, R.J. Conley

B-Main One Finish: Michael Chilton, Colten Burdette, Mike Benedum, Rod Conley, Justin Cooper, Miles Cook II, Travis Carr, Bill Haager, Josh Bocook, Breyton Santee, Kirk Phillips, Shannon Thornsberry (DNS-Austin Mullett)

B-Main Two Finish: Seth Daniels, Levi Yetter, Henry Hornsby III, Ryan Montgomery, David Webb, R.J. Conley, Eric Wilson, Avery Taylor, Kevin Wagner DNS-Derek Fisher, Camaron Marlar, Kenneth Howell)

NEXT: What Drivers Said After The Halloween Nationals At Portsmouth Raceway Park With The American Iron-Man Late Model Series